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Updated on: 04 May 2020, 10:42
Originally posted by CaptainJackSparr0w on 18 Sep 2017, 04:34.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 04 May 2020, 10:42, edited 2 times in total.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 04 May 2020, 10:42, edited 2 times in total.
Updated - Complete topic (1114).
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Question 1
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
65%
(hard)
Question Stats:
53% (03:17) correct
47%
(03:10) wrong
based on 869
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 2
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
Question Stats:
53% (01:15) correct 47%
(01:27) wrong
based on 896
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Project RC Butler 2020 - Participate and win GMAT Club Tests.
Passage # 68, Date: 04-May-2020
This post is a part of Project RC Butler 2020. Click here for Details
Passage # 68, Date: 04-May-2020
This post is a part of Project RC Butler 2020. Click here for Details
The transformation of European economies from pre-capitalist to capitalist, between the 16th and 18th centuries, is often portrayed as a process that followed the iron logic of the pursuit of economic self-interest by all its participants, with traders acting as the primary catalysts for the transition.
In fact, this portrayal neglects a crucial element of the pre-capitalist, subsistence-oriented economic production—namely, its tendency for self-perpetuation. Self-interest dictated that both the peasants and the feudal lords maintain the pattern of diversified subsistence production rather than embark on specialized production for exchange. The peasants were owners of the land on which they farmed, and did not yet have to face threats of competition for land leases or eviction by the landowners, common in the era of capitalist economic organization. They produced nearly everything they needed in order to survive and had little incentive to abandon their economic autonomy. As for the feudal lords, they lived off the surplus produced by the peasants, which they easily commandeered by force of arms rather than by economic means. It can be argued that they also had little incentive to change this arrangement.
Yet despite the strong force of inertia evident in pre-capitalist economic arrangements, they ultimately gave way to a new capitalist system of production, even though this process was more unevenly paced in different countries than is sometimes assumed. There is a very general explanation for this whose central tenet is that while the pre-capitalist economist actors strove to perpetuate the system of subsistence production, some of the actions they chose in pursuit of this goal had the unintended consequence of undermining the very system they wanted to preserve and ushering in an economic revolution.
In fact, this portrayal neglects a crucial element of the pre-capitalist, subsistence-oriented economic production—namely, its tendency for self-perpetuation. Self-interest dictated that both the peasants and the feudal lords maintain the pattern of diversified subsistence production rather than embark on specialized production for exchange. The peasants were owners of the land on which they farmed, and did not yet have to face threats of competition for land leases or eviction by the landowners, common in the era of capitalist economic organization. They produced nearly everything they needed in order to survive and had little incentive to abandon their economic autonomy. As for the feudal lords, they lived off the surplus produced by the peasants, which they easily commandeered by force of arms rather than by economic means. It can be argued that they also had little incentive to change this arrangement.
Yet despite the strong force of inertia evident in pre-capitalist economic arrangements, they ultimately gave way to a new capitalist system of production, even though this process was more unevenly paced in different countries than is sometimes assumed. There is a very general explanation for this whose central tenet is that while the pre-capitalist economist actors strove to perpetuate the system of subsistence production, some of the actions they chose in pursuit of this goal had the unintended consequence of undermining the very system they wanted to preserve and ushering in an economic revolution.
1. According to the passage, what is the main flaw of the traditional portrayal of the transition from pre-capitalist to capitalist economies in Europe?
A) It falsely represents the capitalist mode of production as both a goal and a product of economic self-interest.
B) It does not account for the uneven pace of the transition in different European countries.
C) It assumes that the economic power wielded over peasants by traders was exercised more benevolently than that of feudal lords.
D) It assumes that the economic processes of innovation and specialization are driven by economic self-interest.
E) It denies the importance of innovation for pre-capitalist producers.
A) It falsely represents the capitalist mode of production as both a goal and a product of economic self-interest.
B) It does not account for the uneven pace of the transition in different European countries.
C) It assumes that the economic power wielded over peasants by traders was exercised more benevolently than that of feudal lords.
D) It assumes that the economic processes of innovation and specialization are driven by economic self-interest.
E) It denies the importance of innovation for pre-capitalist producers.
2. Which of the following would be a likely place where one could find this passage?
A) As the conclusion of an essay criticizing the inequities of the capitalist system of production.
B) As a part of a review of a book that presents as its main thesis that transition to capitalism was a goal of economic producers.
C) As a part of a larger article arguing that the waning of the chivalric virtue carried by pre-capitalist lords is to be lamented.
D) As an introduction to a fuller description of a new historical model of transition to capitalism.
E) As a short correction of views expressed earlier in a recent longer article by the same author.
A) As the conclusion of an essay criticizing the inequities of the capitalist system of production.
B) As a part of a review of a book that presents as its main thesis that transition to capitalism was a goal of economic producers.
C) As a part of a larger article arguing that the waning of the chivalric virtue carried by pre-capitalist lords is to be lamented.
D) As an introduction to a fuller description of a new historical model of transition to capitalism.
E) As a short correction of views expressed earlier in a recent longer article by the same author.
04 May 2020, 21:22
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This is a relatively straightforward passage. I took a total of 6 minutes and 21 seconds to understand the passage and answer both questions correctly.
1. According to the passage, what is the main flaw of the traditional portrayal of the transition from pre-capitalist to capitalist economies in Europe?
A) It falsely represents the capitalist mode of production as both a goal and a product of economic self-interest.
B) It does not account for the uneven pace of the transition in different European countries.
C) It assumes that the economic power wielded over peasants by traders was exercised more benevolently than that of feudal lords.
D) It assumes that the economic processes of innovation and specialization are driven by economic self-interest.
E) It denies the importance of innovation for pre-capitalist producers.
To answer this question, we must focus on second paragraph. The opening sentence of this paragraph talks about a flaw in the traditional portrayal. Upon reading this paragraph, we understand that a few actors, namely the peasants and feudal lords, did not have any incentive to change their existing arrangement. They were content with the subsistence oriented arrangement. Thus, their motive to change their ways and accept the capitalist economy couldn't have been economic self-interest. This clearly paves way for us to correctly mark choice (A) as the answer.
All the other choices don't talk about this aspect and are either out of scope or irrelevant to the current discussion.
However, note that option (B) is lifted from the third paragrah and might be tempting for someone who didn't make appropriate notes and wasn't able to gauge the essence of this passage. Furthermore, options (C) and (E) are not stated in the passage, though they use recycled language from the text.
Also, option (D) is also a tempting albeit incorrect choice simply because we unknowingly use our outside knowledge of the topic of capitalism. The terms - innovation and specialization are nowhere stated in the passage. Even if we neglect this point, the author nevers says that it is wrong to assume that economic processes are driven by self interest. Sure they are! But that is not the point here.
2. Which of the following would be a likely place where one could find this passage?
A) As the conclusion of an essay criticizing the inequities of the capitalist system of production.
B) As a part of a review of a book that presents as its main thesis that transition to capitalism was a goal of economic producers.
C) As a part of a larger article arguing that the waning of the chivalric virtue carried by pre-capitalist lords is to be lamented.
D) As an introduction to a fuller description of a new historical model of transition to capitalism.
E) As a short correction of views expressed earlier in a recent longer article by the same author.
(A) is incorrect because the passage sets the tone or introduction about a historical model. It couldn't possibly be the conclusion for an essay. Also, the inequities of the capitalist system are not even talked about in the passage, let alone criticized. (A) is out.
(B) This is a very tempting choice. I also zeroed down to this choice and the correct answer choice.
In the broad sense, a producer is someone who makes or supplies goods. It could be a peasant or a trader. According to the passage, these two characters were different in that peasants did not have any incentive to change while traders were the primary catalysts of the transformation. Because these two characters (and many more) make up the producers and because we have reached a place where this choice is true in case of traders but not true in case of peasants, we can reject this as the correct option. (I really hope it's clear)
(C) Chivalriv virtues are not talked about in the passage. Incorrect choice.
(D) This is the correct answer. Refer to explanation of option (B).
(E) There doesn't seem to be 'correction of views'. Had the author apologized anywhere in the passage or referenced the longer article, this could've been the correct option.
1. According to the passage, what is the main flaw of the traditional portrayal of the transition from pre-capitalist to capitalist economies in Europe?
A) It falsely represents the capitalist mode of production as both a goal and a product of economic self-interest.
B) It does not account for the uneven pace of the transition in different European countries.
C) It assumes that the economic power wielded over peasants by traders was exercised more benevolently than that of feudal lords.
D) It assumes that the economic processes of innovation and specialization are driven by economic self-interest.
E) It denies the importance of innovation for pre-capitalist producers.
To answer this question, we must focus on second paragraph. The opening sentence of this paragraph talks about a flaw in the traditional portrayal. Upon reading this paragraph, we understand that a few actors, namely the peasants and feudal lords, did not have any incentive to change their existing arrangement. They were content with the subsistence oriented arrangement. Thus, their motive to change their ways and accept the capitalist economy couldn't have been economic self-interest. This clearly paves way for us to correctly mark choice (A) as the answer.
All the other choices don't talk about this aspect and are either out of scope or irrelevant to the current discussion.
However, note that option (B) is lifted from the third paragrah and might be tempting for someone who didn't make appropriate notes and wasn't able to gauge the essence of this passage. Furthermore, options (C) and (E) are not stated in the passage, though they use recycled language from the text.
Also, option (D) is also a tempting albeit incorrect choice simply because we unknowingly use our outside knowledge of the topic of capitalism. The terms - innovation and specialization are nowhere stated in the passage. Even if we neglect this point, the author nevers says that it is wrong to assume that economic processes are driven by self interest. Sure they are! But that is not the point here.
2. Which of the following would be a likely place where one could find this passage?
A) As the conclusion of an essay criticizing the inequities of the capitalist system of production.
B) As a part of a review of a book that presents as its main thesis that transition to capitalism was a goal of economic producers.
C) As a part of a larger article arguing that the waning of the chivalric virtue carried by pre-capitalist lords is to be lamented.
D) As an introduction to a fuller description of a new historical model of transition to capitalism.
E) As a short correction of views expressed earlier in a recent longer article by the same author.
(A) is incorrect because the passage sets the tone or introduction about a historical model. It couldn't possibly be the conclusion for an essay. Also, the inequities of the capitalist system are not even talked about in the passage, let alone criticized. (A) is out.
(B) This is a very tempting choice. I also zeroed down to this choice and the correct answer choice.
In the broad sense, a producer is someone who makes or supplies goods. It could be a peasant or a trader. According to the passage, these two characters were different in that peasants did not have any incentive to change while traders were the primary catalysts of the transformation. Because these two characters (and many more) make up the producers and because we have reached a place where this choice is true in case of traders but not true in case of peasants, we can reject this as the correct option. (I really hope it's clear)
(C) Chivalriv virtues are not talked about in the passage. Incorrect choice.
(D) This is the correct answer. Refer to explanation of option (B).
(E) There doesn't seem to be 'correction of views'. Had the author apologized anywhere in the passage or referenced the longer article, this could've been the correct option.
General Discussion
18 Sep 2017, 04:37
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To all Experts,
I find it very hard to tackle these type of passages within given time frame. Any tips/method on how to tackle these type of RCs?
I find it very hard to tackle these type of passages within given time frame. Any tips/method on how to tackle these type of RCs?
